The Russellville Lady Panthers managed more runs against district favorite Franklin-Simpson last week than the other two teams fighting it out for the second seed in the district could muster in the first go-round of the 2016 season.
Coach Matt Willhite’s Lady Cats beat RHS 13-3. F-S has beaten Logan County 12-1 and Todd Central 10-0.
Coach Calvin Head’s Lady Panthers scored all three of their runs in the third inning. With one out, Tara Gilbert and Brooklyn Ray each singled. After the second out, Tonisha Hampton reached on an error, and freshman Taryn Gray blasted a 3-run triple.
The Lady Panthers threatened in the fifth when Gilbert got her second hit. With an out, Allison McDaniel walked, but Hampton forced McDaniel and Gray grounded out to end the game on the 10-run mercy rule. F-S has won all three district games on that rule.
Russellville had runners in scoring position in both the first and second innings. Cierra Collins singled to start the game. She went to second on Brooklyn Ray’s grounder, but she was stranded. In the second, Gray singled, but was forced by Johnea Pendleton. Susanna Higgins singled to send Pendleton to third base, but Macy Meacham flied out to right to end that threat.
For Franklin, Cynthia Chaney, who has signed to play for Georgetown College, had three hits, as did Makinlee Webb. Alannah Fuller, who will play for Union College of Kentucky, tripled, doubled, drove in two runs and scored three. Jessie Bellar and Allie Pendleton each had two hits with Hannah Thurmond adding the 14th hit.
Freshman Madison Davis, a three-year starter, pitched the win while Tara Gilbert took the loss.